Nothing Happens Until Somebody Sells Something

These are the words written by my professor in a business class
twenty years ago. In franchise sales or in any industry, sales are the
lifeblood of business. Nearly four months of the calendar year is behind
us, and there are sales professionals worldwide wondering how they are
going to close more business this year than last. Below are a few
pointers that any business owner or sales professional should practice
to keep pace with annual sales expectations:

1.
Prospecting: Years ago I asked a respected and successful sales
professional the secret to his success. His quick reply was, “Prospect
early in the day, prospect early in the week and prospect early in the
month. Then, let the year take care of itself.” We never have enough
leads, and filling the pipeline with qualified prospects is paramount to
reaching monthly, quarterly or annual sales goals. So, prospect every
day.

2. Ask for Referrals: Each and every client is a gold
mine of new leads. There is simply no better way to build a pipeline of
warm leads than by asking a happy client for a referral. Testimonials
and referrals are the natural by-product of a satisfied customer.

3.
Set Goals: Setting daily, monthly and annual sales goals and reviewing
them regularly is a must for every sales professional. Rarely have I met
a successful sales professional that doesn’t have a written list of
goals that they refer to each and every day. Here is one of my favorite
quotes by Brian Tracy, a noted author and public speaker: “In my
conversations with hundreds of top salespeople over the years, I have
found that they all have one thing in common. They have taken the time
to sit down and create a clear blueprint for themselves and their future
lives.”

Every successful businessperson knows that nothing happens unless
somebody sells something. And every successful sales professional knows
they must do the following to achieve success: 1. Prospect for new
customers; 2. Ask for referrals; 3. Set attainable yet challenging
goals.

I am the PR Director for Franchise Foundry, a franchise consulting company that partners with proven and profitable businesses looking to grow through franchising. Franchise Foundry provides both the capital investment and the services required to grow the business. Franchise Foundry provides services such as: Investment/growth capital, legal compliance, marketing, sales, operations development and technology development.